Venezuela after Chavez

( Updated: 03/25/2015 )

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A woman walks past anti-American graffiti in Caracas, in March 2015. The United States declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013. Jorge Silva/Reuters

A sample bank note with the face of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and the word 'devalued' is seen at a market in Caracas on Feb., 2015. Venezuela unveiled a devaluation of 69 percent at the opening of a new free-floating currency exchange rate system, part of President Maduro's efforts to shore up the OPEC nation's coffers amid tumbling crude prices. Jorge Silva/Reuters

A supporter of President Nicolas Maduro yells 'Viva Chavez,' after signing her name to a petition asking the US to end sanctions against Venezuelan officials accused of violating human rights, at Bolivar square in Caracas, in March, 2015. Ariana Cubillos/AP

A nun hits an empty pot during a protest march against shortages of basic goods in Caracas in Jan., 2015. The socialist-run OPEC member's economy shrank 2.8 percent in 2014 while inflation topped 64 percent, the socialist leader announced in a speech to parliament, in what is almost certainly the worst performance in Latin America. Jorge Silva/Reuters

A woman smiles as she stands next to a poster of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez at the 23 de Enero neighborhood in Caracas March 5, 2014. Followers of the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez took to the streets on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of his death, a sad but welcome distraction for his successor, who has faced a month of violent protests. Tomas Bravo/Reuters

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at a military parade to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Venezuela's late president Hugo Chavez in Caracas March 5, 2014. A year after Chavez succumbed to cancer, his self-proclaimed 'son,' President Nicolas Maduro, faces the biggest challenge to his rule from a month-long explosion of antigovernment demonstrations that have led to 18 deaths. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A masked demonstrator aims his slingshot loaded with a marble at Bolivarian National Guards during antigovernment protests in Caracas, Venezuela, March 2, 2014. Antigovernment activists have been protesting high inflation, shortages of food stuffs and medicine, and violent crime in a nation with the world's largest proven oil reserves. Rodrigo Abd/AP

Antigovernment protesters take part in a rally against Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas March 2, 2014. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A demonstrator covers her mouth with a rag to protest government censorship, during a march to Venezuelan Telecommunications Regulator Office, or CONATEL, in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 17, 2014. Students marched to Venezuela's telecom regulator to demand it lift all restrictions on the media's coverage of the unfolding political crisis. Alejandro Cegarra/AP

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holds a cuatro during a rally in Caracas February 18, 2014. Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Venezuela's capital after troops arrested opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on charges of fomenting unrest against the government and violence that has killed at least four people. Miraflores Palace/Reuters

Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, dressed in white and holding up a flower stem, is taken into custody by Bolivarian National Guards, in Caracas, Feb 18, 2014. Lopez re-emerged from days of hiding to address an antigovernment demonstration and then he turned himself in to authorities. Speaking to some 5,000 supporters with a megaphone, Lopez said that he doesn't fear going to jail to defend his beliefs and constitutional right to peacefully protest against President Nicolas Maduro. Alejandro Cegarra/AP

During a meeting in Havana, Cuba, on July 27, 2013, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (r.) speaks with Cuba's former President Fidel Castro about a picture painted by Chavez. Miraflores Press Office/AP

Demonstrators run away from tear gas during a protest in Caracas Feb. 12, 2014. A demonstrator was killed during the anti-government rally. Jorge Silva/Reuters

Venezuelan Indians from Amazon tribes and members of the 'Platoon of Silent Weapons' of Venezuela's army stand guard during a welcome ceremony for Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, in Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela, July 22, 2013. Jorge Silva/Reuters

Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez stand before a table with cakes made to commemorate the leader's 59th birthday in Caracas, Venezuela, July 28, 2013. Ariana Cubillos/AP

A child reads a new edition of Venezuela's constitution, which displays an image of late country's president Hugo Chavez on the cover, in Caracas September 16, 2013. The constitutions will be distributed by the government on the start of the new school year. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A consumer carries products at the state-run supermarket 'Bicentenario' in Caracas June 4, 2013. A Venezuelan state is testing a system to limit purchases of food and other staples, local media reported, in a move that officials defended as necessary to stop contraband trade but opposition critics slammed as Cuban-style rationing. Jorge Silva/Reuters

Jose Rafael Hernandez spray paints graffiti that reads in Spanish 'Long live Chavez' in the 23 de enero neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, March 11, 2013. Hernandez and his three-man crew had already sprayed some 20 murals over the past week all over the '23 de Enero' neighborhood where support for the late President Hugo Chavez, their 'Comandante,' remains rock solid even after his death. Jack Chang/AP

Supporters of opposition leader Henrique Capriles scuffle with riot police as they block a highway while demonstrating for a recount of the votes in Sunday's election, in Caracas, April 15, 2013. Capriles called on Venezuelans to take to the streets and peacefully demand a vote recount if election authorities formally proclaim Hugo Chávez's chosen successor, Nicolas Maduro, as the next president. Tomas Bravo/Reuters

University students shout slogans against Venezuela's Education Minister Pedro Calzadilla near a burning road block they set up in Caracas, Venezuela, July 11, 2013. Students are demanding an increase in the budget of public universities nationwide. Fernando Llano/AP

A demonstrator holds a poster of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles as other Capriles supporters and students block a highway in the Altamira neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, April 15, 2013. National Guard troops fired tear gas and plastic bullets to disperse students protesting the official results in Venezuela's disputed presidential election. Fernando Llano/AP

A man sits down to have lunch by candlelight, during a massive blackout in Caracas September 3, 2013. A large-scale blackout affected a great part of the capital Caracas and various states of the country, affected locals told Reuters. Jorge Silva/Reuters

Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni waves from the window of her house in Caracas on June 7, 2013. Venezuela's attorney general proposed to end the house arrest of Afiuni who was detained on corruption charges in 2009 and alleged that she was raped in prison. Afiuni's detention for the past three years and alleged mistreatment behind bars has made her a cause celebre for foes of the late President Hugo Chávez. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

Government supporters celebrate after the official results of the presidential elections were announced at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, early April 15, 2013. Hugo Chávez's hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro, won a razor-thin victory in Sunday's special presidential election, edging the opposition's leader Henrique Capriles by only about 300,000 votes, electoral officials announced. Ariana Cubillos/AP

Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez wait for a chance to view his body at the military academy in Caracas March 8, 2013. Chavez will be embalmed and put on display 'for eternity' at a military museum after a state funeral and an extended period of lying in state, acting President Nicolas Maduro said. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A supporter of Venezuela's acting President Nicolas Maduro gestures as she listens Maduro speak outside the national electoral council after he registered his candidacy for president to replace Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, March 11, 2013. Presidential elections were announced to take place on April 14. Rodrigo Abd/AP

A woman looks out of her door at a flag and portrait of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, March 7, 2013. Venezuelans flocked to pay tribute as Chavez lied in state two days after he died. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A woman wipes photos of late President Hugo Chavez at a makeshift altar set in his honor at the main square of Sabaneta, western Venezuela March 9, 2013. Chavez, who died on March 5, 2013 was born in Sabaneta. His former home has been turned into the local headquarters of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, PSUV. Esteban Felix/AP

A supporter of Venezuela's acting President Nicolas Maduro stands with his face painted in the colors of his nation's flag outside the national electoral council where Maduro registers his candidacy for president to replace late President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, March 11, 2013. Rodrigo Abd/AP

A woman walks past graffiti depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, on May 2012. Mystery, rumor, and conspiracy theories had surrounded Chavez's health almost a year after his cancer diagnosis, with many Venezuelans contemplating a future without their larger-than-life president. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A supporter of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez photographs the Monument to the Founding Fathers as he arrives to view Chavez's body in state at the Military Academy in Caracas March 7, 2013. Chavez, a former paratrooper, died on March 5. He was president for 14 years and is now lying in state at the military academy where the government says more than 2 million supporters have viewed. Jorge Dan Lopez/Reuters

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is shown giving a press conference at the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuela's Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced on March 5, 2013 that Chavez has died. Leslie Mazoch/AP